Supermodel Ashley Graham is adding actress to her resume with a cameo credit in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” set to hit theaters on May 1. At Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit presented by Deloitte, Graham and UTA Partner and Agent Natasha Bolouki dove into the cameo, what drives business decisions, how the two work together and how Graham continues to cultivate authentic relationships with her fans.
Bolouki got candid about the opportunity, explaining that when they first spoke about Graham appearing in the film, they were aware of the fact that her cameo could get cut. “You don’t know what’s going to happen [on the] editing room floor,” she explained. “But it just turned out [great]. First of all, she was in the trailer… She’s in the opening scene of the movie. And even prior to that, that small thing has led to some other really great partnerships just because of that.”
It might not have seemed like the “biggest thing when you first look at it,” said Bolouki, but the better question is what the opportunity can lead to in the future. That’s one example of how opportunities for today’s multi-hyphenate talent environment requires representatives like Bolouki to be “thinking outside of the box.”
Graham, long outspoken about the need for size inclusivity, discussed today’s fashion trends, explaining that her focus remains on continuing the conversation around needing “to see all shapes and sizes on the runway…we need to have more than just an XL or a double XL in the store.”
And when it comes to engaging with her fanbase, Graham is all about community. “I’m in the comments, commenting. I’m in the DMs. I love sending a voice note,” she said. “I love to have intimate dinners.” For the premiere of “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” she brought Ella Halikas, a top plus-size creator, as her plus one. “I just thought, you know what, why not invite one of these girlies who’s probably not going to get the opportunity, and opening up that door for someone? For me, it’s constantly thinking about how to connect, how to engage, and how to stay connected with my community as well.”
Graham, who currently has a plus size collection in partnership with JC Penny and founded Lucci Lambrusco, also discussed turning down deals that don’t align with her — or her audience. “I’ve said no to million dollar deals, because I know that the fans would be like, ‘Wait, what?’” said Graham. “There have been things that Natasha has brought me, and she said, ‘I just don’t think this is going to make sense. Here’s the dollar amount.’ We take a day to think about it, and we’re like, ‘We just can’t do it.’
Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit brought together leaders shaping the future of entertainment marketing and spotlightedg the growth of the creator economy, strategies for how brands can reconnect with audiences and more. Other speakers include Tina Knowles, Warner Bros Motion Picture Group co-chair and CEO Pam Abdy, design expert and TV host Bobby Berk and TV personality, host and entrepreneur Harry Jowsey.
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